Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives
Dee Glen Smith oral histories
UUS_COLL MSS 273
7 boxes
3 linear feet
1925-1992
This collection consists of the audio cassette recordings and the typescripts of numerous oral history interviews conducted by Howard M. Carlisle during the 1980s about Dee Smith.
Material in English
Processed in February of 2006.
The materials in this collection were donated to Utah State University Special Collections & Archives by Howard M. Carlisle in December 2002.
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Dee Glen Smith oral histories must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.
Initial Citation: Dee Glen Smith oral histories USU_COLL MSS 273, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.
Following Citations: USU_COLL MSS 273, USUSCA.
Dee Glen Smith was born September 30, 1925 in Brigham City, Utah the son of Ren and Seret Smith. He worked for his father, who owned a small grocery story, throughout his youth. He graduated from Box Elder High School in 1943 and quickly joined the US Army. During a leave of absence, Smith married his high school sweetheart, Ida Woodyatt in May 1944. After an honorable discharge as a corporal from the Army, Smith returned to help his father run his grocery store, quickly catching on to the daily store activity and soon taking over many responsibilities from his father. Smith joined with a partner and expanded his business, Smith's Grocery, into Ogden, Roy, and Layton, Utah. After his father passed away, Smith took over as president and began to expand even more throughout Utah and later into Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, and other states. Many small grocery chains were up for sale at the time due to poor business practices and Dee Smith bought them up and consolidated them into a profitable venture. Dee Glen Smith died June 30, 1984 in Salt Lake City, Utah, leaving behind a billion-dollar business that included 128 stores and 6,500 employees.
Dee Glen Smith Biographical Timeline:
- September 30, 1925 Born in Brigham City, Utah to Ren and Seret Smith
- May 22, 1943 Graduated from Box Elder High School in Brigham City, Utah
- May 5, 1944 Married high school sweetheart, Ida Woodyatt
- January 1952 Awarded the Jaycee's Distinguished Service Award in Brigham City, Utah
- May 15, 1975 Awarded the City of Hope award by the Food Industries Circle in Salt Lake City, Utah
- Spring 1978 Awarded the Maurice Warshaw Golden Key Award
- May 25, 1979 Named the food executive of the year by USC and the Food Marketing Management Institute
- June 22, 1979 Awarded the Golden Plate by the American Academy of Excellence
- May 12, 1983 Awarded the distinguished executive award by the USU College of Business, Logan, Utah
- June 10, 1983 Received an honorary PhD of humanities from Weber State College in Ogden, Utah
- June 30, 1984 Died at age of 58 in Salt Lake City, Utah
This collection consists of the audio cassette recordings and the typescripts of numerous oral history interviews conducted by Howard M. Carlisle during the 1980s. These interviews were conducted by Carlisle for use in writing his 1992 book, Fulfilling a Dream: The Dee Smith Story (see citation below). Concerning the content these interviews Carlisle stated:
The taped interviews are not restricted to topics related to the growth of the company. Several interviews are with older Brigham City residents (most of whom have since died) relating to early years and conditions in the community during the past century. Most notable are insights into the small general stores of the period, how investment capital was obtained during the Great Depression when banks were extremely conservative, and insights into living conditions in the typical small Utah community.
The material in this collection has been organized into two series. Series I consists of the oral history typescripts, Carlisle's notes concerning the interviews, and one box (Box 3) containing information about Dee Smith's businesses. Series II consists of the oral history audio cassette and compact disc recordings.
This collection is arranged by material type.
Carlisle, Howard M., Fulfilling a Dream: The Dee Smith Story, (HD 9321.95 .S64 C37 1992)
Dee Glen Smith Photograph Collection P0438
Contains audio cassette tapes and compact discs.
Dee Glen Smith photograph collection P0438
Carlisle, Howard M., Fulfilling a Dream: The Dee Smith Story, (HD 9321.95 .S64 C37 1992)
Retail Trade
Oral Histories
Interview Transcripts
I
Ida Woodyatt Smith
1991 May 14-28
1
1
3 interviews and notes on 2 tapes
The Fred L. Smith family
1991 August 6
1
2
The Jeff P. Smith family
1991 June 26 - September 5
1
3
The Richie Dee Smith family
1991 June 26 - July 10
1
4
Ole and Ida Zundel
1991 May 16
1
5
Pearl Smith Arbon
1991 September 7
1
6
Ray and Mary Reese
1991 May 22
1
7
Erma Hansen
1991 May 28
1
8
Juanita Steffen
1991 August 21
1
9
Don Carlson
1991 May 31
1
10
Dale and Melva Baron
1991 September 23
1
11
Omer and Bette Call
1991 May 20
1
12
Dean and Peggy Candland
1991 October 19
1
13
Ted Earl
1991 September 23
1
14
Vera Fife
1991 August 15
1
15
Ed and Marva Frost
1991 September 3
1
16
Clinton Holmes
1991 October 1
1
17
Leroy Holmgren
1991 December 16
1
18
Reese and Miriam Jensen
1991 May 27
1
19
Shauna Nance Josten and Paul Nance
1991 December 23
1
20
John Larsen
1991 May 22
1
21
Ellen Mae Munns Manning
1991 December 6
1
22
Reed and Glenna Merrill
1991 May 25
1
23
Del and Shelly Nichols
1991 July 19
1
24
D. A. Olsen
1991 August 26
1
25
Verl and LaRaine Petersen
1991 May 17
1
26
Vern Petersen
1991 July 11
1
27
Grace Price
1991 July 19
1
28
Gene Munns Rich
1991 December 2
1
29
not listed in interviews or in book
Lloyd Robinette
1991 August 26
1
30
Jim Simper
1991 May 16
1
31
John and Alice Stewart
undated
1
32
No Tape
Lawrence C Taylor
1991 December 30
1
33
Blythe Tingey
undated
1
34
No Tape or Transcript
Effie Baty
1991 September 23
1
35
Glen and June Fife
1991 May 17
1
36
Fred and Eileen Forsgren
1991 July 3 - August
1
37
J. Leo Jensen
1991 May 27
1
38
Darel Johnson
1991 September 7
1
39
Karl Josephson
1991 December 2
1
40
Gary Loveland
1991 May 20
1
41
Earl Seegmiller
1991 September 2
1
42
Howard and Connie Simcox
1991 September 3
1
43
George Woodward
1991 August 9
1
44
Sam and Ann Park
1991 October 3
1
55
Lloyd and Geneil Pickett
1991 June 20
1
46
Izzy and JaNae Wagner
1991 June 20
1
47
Bob Bolinder
1991 November 4
2
48
Steve Burton
1991 October 30
2
49
Rich Bylski
1991 October 29
2
50
Jim Hallsey
1991 November 6
2
51
Larry McNeill
1991 November 3
2
52
Harry Moskal
1991 January 8
2
53
Dave Parmeter
1991 November 8
2
54
Jonathan Ramras
1991 October 21
2
55
Mat Tezak
1991 October 30
2
56
Oleen Watt
1991 July 1
2
57
Ken White
1991 December 3
2
58
Corina Williams
1991 September 6
2
59
Jay Arbon
1991 November 14
2
60
Carl Blair
1991 November 13
2
61
No Tape
Rick Bovero
1991 November 20
2
62
Dirk Burningham
1991 November 20
2
63
Tim Cook
1991 November 13
2
64
No Tape
Pete Cowan
1991 November 14
2
65
Kathleen Foote
1991 November 13
2
66
No Tape
Randy Johnson
1991 November 20
2
67
Jack Kelley
1991 November 14
2
68
Bob Lee
1991 November 20
2
69
Jon Little
1991 November 14
2
70
Marilyn Weaver
1991 November 14
2
71
Delonne Anderson
1991 May 21
2
72
Ralph Drake
1991 October 30
2
73
Darlene Hobson
1991 July 30
2
74
Rocky LaSalle
1991 December 6
2
75
Al Martindale
1991 May 30
2
76
(2 tapes)
Marv Mumford
1991 September 24
2
77
Winnie and Mont Rosenburg
1991 July 25
2
78
John Shipp
1991 September 16
2
79
Art Toimoto
1991 August 7
2
80
Frank and Emma Warner
1991 July 25
2
81
Tom Welch
1991 September 6
2
82
Jack Williams
1991 November 30
2
83
Grant Woolley
1991 October 30
2
84
Lawrence P. Alder
1991 November 18
2
85
Dick Bartholomew
1991 December 18
2
86
James and Lucille Chamberlin
1991 December 12
2
87
Mac Christensen
1991 October 21
2
88
Winston Fillmore
1991 October 3
2
89
Beverly Howell
1991 December 2
2
90
Gil Iker
1991 December 23
2
91
Marvin G. Jenson
1991 September 16
2
92
No Tape
Bob Love
1992 January 28
2
93
Walt Macy
1991 August 7
2
94
Vince Mancini
1991 December 18
2
95
M. H. Martin
1991 December 23
2
96
Keith Nuttall
1992 January 15
2
97
Duane Peters
1991 August 2
2
98
Pete Randall
undated
2
99
No Transcript and No Tape
Ed Reynolds
1991 December 6
2
100
Jack Robins
1991 December 30
2
101
Ray Rose
1991 December 6
2
102
Jack Shaum
1991 December 9
2
103
D. Gil Warner
1991 September 6
2
104
Tom Winegar
1991 December 6
2
105
Wayne Winegar
1991 November 20
2
106
Swede Larson
1991 October 3
2
107
No Tape
Haven Simmons
1991 December 10
2
108
Materials concerning Dee Smith's business
I
undated
Obituaries and remembrances of Dee Smith, his family, and friends
undated
3
109
The Food and the Golf
undated
3
110
Awards and honors
undated
3
111
Smith's Management Newsletter
undated
3
112
The Inter-com Newsletter
undated
3
114
Smith's Magazine
undated
3
115
Expansion and acquisitions
undated
3
116
The business of Smith's
undated
3
117
Notes and miscellaneous items
undated
3
118
Audio Cassettes and Compact Discs
II
Ida Woodyatt Smith
Tape 1
1991 May 14
1
Ole and Ida Zundel
Tape 2
1991 May 16
1
Jim Simper, Brigham City
Tape 3
1991 May 16
1
Glen and June Fife
Tape 4
1991 May 17
1
Omer and Bette Call
Tape 5
1991 May 20
1
Delonne Anderson
Tape 6
1991 May 21
1
Delonne Anderson
Tape 7
1991 May 22
1
Ray and Mary Reese; John Larsen
Tape 8
1991 May 22
1
J. Leo Jensen; Reese and Miriam Jensen
Tape 9
1991 May 27
1
Erma Hansen
Tape 10
1991 May 28
1
Erma Hansen
Tape 11
1991 May 28
1
Ida Woodyatt Smith
Tape 11
1991 May 28
1
Lloyd and Geneil Pickett; Izzy and JaNae Wagner
Tape 12
1991 June 20
1
The Jeff P. Smith family
Tape 13
1991 June 26
1
The Richie Dee Smith family
Tape 14
1991 June 26
1
Oleen Watt
Tape 15
1991 July 1
1
Darlene Hobson
Tape 1
1991 July 30
2
The Richie Dee Smith family; The Jeff P. Smith family
Tape 2
1991 July 10
2
Winnie and Mont Rosenburg; Frank and Emma Warner
Tape 3
1991 July 25
2
The Fred L. Smith family
Tape 4
1991 August 6
2
The Fred L. Smith family
Tape 5
1991 August 6
2
Art Toimoto
Tape 6
1991 August 7
2
Corina Williams; Joe Watts
Tape 7
1991 September 6
2
Joe Watts is not listed
Ed and Marva Frost; John Shipp
Tape 8
1991 September 3- September 16
2
Tom Welch; D. Gil Warner
Tape 9
1991 September 6
2
Darel Johnson; Pearl Smith Arbon
Tape 10
1991 September 7
2
Marv Mumford
Tape 11
1991 September 24
2
Dale and Melva Baron; Effie Baty
Tape 12
1991 September 23
2
Jonathan Ramras; Mac Christensen; Ole and Ida Zundel
Tape 13
1991 May 16-1991 October 21
2
Rich Bylski
Tape 14
1991 October 29
2
Grant Woolley
Tape 15
1991 October 30
2
Steve Burton; Mat Tezak
Tape 16
1991 October 30
2
Jay Arbon; Jon Little
Tape 1
1991 November 14
3
Marilyn Weaver; Pete Cowan; Jack Kelley
Tape 2
1991 November 14
3
Wayne Winegar; Bob Bolinder and Larry McNeill
Tape 3
1991 November 4-20
3
Randy Johnson
Tape 4
1991 November 20
3
Randy Johnson; Rick Bovero; Dirk Burningham
Tape 5
1991 November 20
3
Jack Williams; Beverly Howell and Gene Munns Rich; Karl Josephson
Tape 6
1991 November 30 - December 2
3
(Gene Munns Rich not listed in interviews or in book)
Ed Reynolds; Ken White and Ed Reynolds
Tape 7
1991 December 3 - December 6
3
Rocky LaSalle; Ray Rose; Ellen Mae Munns Manning
Tape 8
1991 December 6
3
Jack Shaum
Tape 9
1991 December 9
3
Haven Simmons and James and Lucille Chamberlin
Tape 10
1991 December 10 - 12
3
Gil Iker and M. H. Martin
Tape 11
1991 December 23
3
Dick Bartholomew; Vince Mancini; James and Lucille Chamberlin and Shauna Nance Josten and Paul Nance
Tape 12
1991 December 18 - 23
3
Jack Robins; Lawrence C. Taylor and Harry Moskal
Tape 13
1991 December 30 - 1992 January 8
3
Jim Hallsey and Tom Winegar
Tape 1
1991 November 6 - December 6
4
Don Carlson and Ted Earl
Tape 2
1991 May 31 - September 23
4
Ralph Drake and Winston Fillmore
Tape 3
1991 October 30
4
Del and Shelly Nichols; Grace Price and Vera Fife
Tape 4
1991 July 19 - August 15
4
Reed and Glenna Merrill; Howard and Connie Simcox
Tape 5
1990 May 25 - 1991 September 3
4
Duane Peters; Dean and Peggy Candland
Tape 6
1991 August 2 - October 19
4
Dave Parmeter; Al Martindale
Tape 7
1991 May 30 - November 8
4
Al Martindale; Lawrence P. Alder
Tape 8
1991 May 30 - November 8
4
Leroy Holmgren; Sam and Ann Park
Tape 9
1991 October 3 - December 16
4
Earl Seegmiller; George Woodward
Tape 10
1991 August 9 - September 2
4
Marv Mumford; Walt Macy
Tape 11
1991 August 7 - September 24
4
Keith Nuttall; Gary Loveland
Tape 12
1991 May 20 - 1992 January 15
4
Verl and LaRaine Petersen; Bob Love
Tape 13
1991 May 17- 1992 January 28
4
Fred and Eileen Forsgren; Juanita Steffen; D. A. Olsen
Tape 14
1991 July 3 - August 26
4
Fred and Eileen Forsgren; D. A. Olsen; Lloyd Robinette
Tape 15
1991 August 12 - August 26
4
Delonne Anderson
CD 1
1991 May 21
5
(see also box 1, tape 7)
Delonne Anderson
CD 2
1991 May 21
5
(see also box 1, tape 6 &7)
Al Martindale
CD 3
1991 May 30
5
(see also box 4, tape 7 & 8)
Al Martindale
CD 4
1991 May 30
5
(see also box 4, tape 7)
J. Leo Jensen
CD 5
1991 May 27
5
(see box 1, tape 9)
Erma Hansen
CD 6
1991 May 28
5
(see box 1, tape 10 & 11)
Erma Hansen
CD 7
1991 May 28
5
(see box 1, tape 10 & 11)
Don Carlson
CD 8
1991 May 31
5
(see box 4, tape 2)
Jim Simper
CD 9
1991 May 16
5
(see box 1, tape 3)
Lloyd Robinette
CD 10
1991 August 26
5
(see box 4, tape 15)
Vera Fife
CD 11
1991 August 15
5
(see box 4, tape 4)
Effie Baty
CD 12
1991 September 23
5
(see box 2, tape 12)
Karl Josephson
CD 13
1991 December 2
5
(see box 3, tape 6)
George Woodward
CD 14
1991 August 9
5
(see box 4, tape 10)
Keith Nuttall
CD 15
1992 January 15
5
(see box 4, tape 12)
Tom Welch
CD 16
1991 September 6
5
(see box 2, tape 9)
Glen and June Fife
CD 17
1991 May 17
5
(see box 1, tape 14)